Mario Lopez (03:22):
Good morning, everyone. Good morning, we're about to kick this off. All right. Here we go. Press is ready, everyone is here. I am Mario Lopez, and I am absolutely thrilled to say we are officially 134 days away from kicking off the opening match in the United States for the FIFA World Cup. Yes. 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest single sporting event in history featuring 48 countries, 104 matches over 39 days, and it is back here in North America for the first time in 32 years. LA will be the nation for fans to begin their FIFA World Cup experience as we prepare to welcome eight matches to SoFi Stadium, including the opening match for the United States on June 12th. Yes.
(04:19)
And today, we're really excited to welcome you to one of LA's iconic sports landmarks, which is going to serve as fan central here in LA for the start of the world's biggest event. And we're going to share with you the amazing opportunities the World Cup Host Committee has created for local and international fans to experience the exhilaration of the experience of the World Cup. And not just to SoFi Stadium, but in communities all across the LA region leading up and during the tournament. It's a tremendous opportunity for all residents to be part of the excitement and we really need your help in sharing the message, raising the awareness level so they know what they can be a part of.
(04:58)
We're honored to have with us today LA Mayor Karen Bass, Inglewood Mayor James Butts, County Supervisor Solis, representatives from FIFA, the LA World Cup Host Committee leadership, three US soccer legends, foundational partners and many people who are really working hard to make sure the World Cup generates significant economic and community impact for the LA region. So thank you so much for all your tireless efforts. So now, I'm delighted to introduce Mr. Chris Klein and Larry Friedman, Co-Chairs of the LA World Cup 2026 Host Committee. Chris is a former US men's national team player and soccer executive, and Larry is the Co-President for the LAFC, gentlemen.
Chris Klein (05:47):
Thank you, Mario. And thank you, Joe Furin, Dan Stimmler, and to the iconic LA Memorial Coliseum from being our host site, and to our friends at the Coliseum Commission and Exposition Park. The opening of our FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles is just 134 days away, and is a culmination of nearly eight years of planning and preparation. We are unbelievably excited to welcome fans and players from around the world to Los Angeles for this global sporting and cultural event. Los Angeles is playing an important role, hosting eight matches over 29 days. We're especially proud that our US men's national team will open their tournament here at the incredible SoFi Stadium on June 12th against Paraguay. The opening match is followed by four additional group stage matches at SoFi Stadium. During the group stage, Los Angeles will also welcome New Zealand, Iran, Belgium, Switzerland, two European playoff winners, along with those competing in two round of 32 matches, and we will also be hosting a quarter-final. The global demand for this tournament has exceeded even our highest expectations. Thankfully, Los Angeles is no stranger to the world stage, and we're prepared to meet this demand. We have some exciting announcements for you today, and now it's my pleasure to introduce my partner in this endeavor, Co-Chair Larry Friedman.
Larry Friedman (07:26):
Thank you, Chris, and welcome everyone, and thanks again to the LA Memorial Coliseum team for being a great host site and partner to our Host Committee. To echo Chris, we could not be more excited to host the world's largest and most watched sporting event. Mayor Karen Bass and Mayor James Butts, we are grateful that you have joined us today, and we deeply appreciate everything you are doing to prepare and promote the LA region for the World Cup. To our current LA World Cup Host Committee ambassadors who are here with us today, three of the greatest athletes to ever wear the crest for our country, and three truly great individuals: Cobi Jones, Mia Hamm, and our newest ambassador as of right this very moment this morning, Julie Foudy, thank you for... Thank you for representing our region and inspiring fans from across the globe to start their World Cup experience right here in Los Angeles. These legends of the beautiful game will work alongside our other ambassadors. And as I like to say, if you have names, drop them. Snoop Dogg, Magic Johnson, Eva Longoria, and Luka Doncic, who will all help promote the World Cup to fans here and around the world. And huge thanks to the LASEC foundational partners for their help in supporting major events like the World Cup. Amgen, a leading biotech company headquartered right here in Greater Los Angeles that harnesses the best of biology and technology to fight the world's toughest diseases. Archer, who is developing the key enabling technologies and aircraft necessary to power the future of aviation right here in Los Angeles. Kaiser Permanente, who is helping shape the future of healthcare and investing in a healthier Los Angeles.
(09:40)
LA Metro, who serves as our official public transportation supporter, and will help move our visitors and guests around the region. LA Tourism, Adam Burke, helping us tell the story of Los Angeles and encouraging global soccer fans to start their World Cup journey right here in Los Angeles. The LA Tourism Marketing District helping promote our region through high profile events like the World Cup, and none of this, the tournament, the fan celebrations, our legacy programs would be possible without their support.
(10:21)
These partners are supporting our Host Committee by investing in a series of legacy programs to engage the community and ensure that the impact of this once in a generation event lasts long past the final whistle. You'll hear more about those programs shortly. It's also important to mention our 26 Community Champions video series that just launched. We are using the spotlight of the World Cup to shine a light on 26 outstanding local nonprofit organizations that are using the beautiful game of soccer to drive meaningful change throughout
Speaker 1 (11:00):
... throughout the Los Angeles region. Please give a round of applause for these 26 community champions. And thank you.
Mario Lopez (11:17):
Hi. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you. It's truly a massive undertaking to stage global events like the NBA All-Star Game, the World Cup, Super Bowl, or the Olympics, which the LA region has the unique honor of doing in successive years for which this region is uniquely qualified to do in two cities that are at the center of these events. Really, you do a great job in handling that. And it's my honor right now that the mayors of each are here to share the remarks. So please welcome coming up first, the honorable Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles.
Karen Bass (11:51):
Thank you. Good morning, everyone. Good morning, good morning, good morning. It is wonderful to be here. This is the second time this week that I have been here because a few days ago, we were here announcing a hundred million dollar grant from the state of California to improve the area, expo park and the Coliseum. And so here we are again with another wonderful announcement, exciting games that are coming up and just 2026 is off to a great start. So today we are here to celebrate the official 2026 FIFA World Cup Fan Festival that will take right place here in this historic LA Memorial Coliseum. I want to congratulate my partner here, James Butts, the incredible mayor of Inglewood. I call him the transformational mayor because he has transformed that city and we will work together. Give him a round of applause. And from our state and federal representatives to our incredible partners at the LA Sports and Entertainment Commission.
(13:15)
We're all coming together to bring together our communities and to celebrate the sport of soccer. It's my goal that when the world comes to Los Angeles, they will see the best of our city, not just the stadium, but they will see the culture, the history and the art embedded into the Coliseum and Exposition Park, all of the historic events that have taken place in this area. And when our first match at SoFi Stadium kicks off in June, there will be days and days of community celebrations all across this city. That's what these games are all about. It is about coming together for the love of sport and spurring economic growth in every neighborhood. There are so many ways to get involved from visiting Casa Mexico near El Pueblo to honor and learn about our history and Mexican traditions, to elevate our soccer skills through Grow the Game of Soccer clinics.
(14:15)
This is LA's moment and we are making sure that it's a moment for everyone to enjoy. And in the coming days, you will hear specifically about what the city of Los Angeles is going to do to prepare for the games, but to prepare for the community celebrations that will happen all over the city with the global theme that we have in our area of games for all. Very, very exciting time in our city. 2026 is going to be a fabulous year. Thank you so much everyone, and I will look forward to the World Cup. Thank you.
Mario Lopez (15:00):
Thank you, Mayor Bass. All right. Now please welcome the honorable James Butts, Mayor of Inglewood.
James Butts (15:11):
Thank you, Mario. I'm delighted to be here today. First of all, I want to let everybody know how grateful I am to be here with my good friend and the mayor I see the most in the county. Mayor Karen Bass is doing a great job. Could we give her a big hand? I also want to acknowledge, even though she's going to speak later, Katherine Schlossman. She's the president and CEO of LA Sports and Entertainment, and she's the CEO of the World Cup Host Committee. She's the president or CEO of everything big that happens here. So please give her a big hand.
(15:56)
I've worked with a lot of people, but she is so smooth with everything she does and we're really fortunate to have her. As Mayor of Inglewood, I could not be prouder to have our city be the focal point of the World Cup games here in our region, including the US team's opening match, the US team's opening match. All eight matches will be played at SoFi Stadium, a world-class venue and a signal of Inglewood's strength and vitality. Today, we're here to celebrate the most meaningful part of hosting the FIFA World Cup, the incredible community engagement and legacy programs coming to LA County sports, especially soccer. Have tremendous power to uplift our community and unite fans from around the globe. The World Cup is the largest and most watched sporting event on the planet, and it will bring visitors from every corner of the world in to our small businesses, cultural institutions, and communities.
(17:09)
The impact will be astounding. I also want to thank the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee for their leadership. These community engagement efforts will make sure that everyone, and I mean everyone, has the opportunity to participate in the excitement of the World Cup and reap the benefits for decades to come. Thank you very much.
Mario Lopez (17:42):
Thank you, Mayor. All right. Next up is someone who's been a great partner to the host committee in our planning efforts to bring the FIFA World Cup here to LA. Ross McCall is FIFA's executive director for commercial operations. His broad responsibilities include coordinating with the host committee on the FIFA Fan Festival. So please welcome Ross.
Ross McCall (18:08):
Thank you. I mean, I'm running out of superlatives to say how amazing Los Angeles is after the speakers before me, but we're embarking upon FIFA's most ambitious project ever. This will be the largest FIFA World Cup in history. And Mario, you said the largest sporting event in history. I think quite frankly, it might be the largest event period in history. 48 teams, 104 matches, 16 incredible host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, uniting a continent through the world's most popular sport. Nearly seven million fans will have the opportunity to attend matches here, but fans will travel from every corner of the globe to share in the thrill of the game and to be a part of something that will unite the world through this sport. Los Angeles will be at the cornerstone of that experience, again, starting with the US Men's National Team's opening match here and continuing through with the eight matches.
(19:16)
But with its deep soccer history, the world-class stadium and venue and the vibrant fan zones, those eight matches in the Los Angeles region will be unforgettable. But really, beyond the stadium is where the World Cup comes to life. Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world with its world-class food, local attractions and unforgettable experiences at every turn. We could not think of a more perfect stage to welcome the world during this incredible tournament. Now, ultimately, everyone will naturally remember what happens on the pitch, but really where the memories are created, the experiences are shared, is off the pitch, where people come together to celebrate the game. And right here in Los Angeles is going to be the perfect stage for the world to see how incredible hosts they will be and celebrating in this incredible, incredible game. So thank you very much. Really excited for this summer.
(20:20)
There's a lot of work to do, but no doubt with our great partners here in the city with Mayor Bass, Mayor Butts, and also with the Los Angeles host committee, we're very excited to see what we can bring to the table. Thank you very much.
Mario Lopez (20:40):
Thank you, Ross. Thank you. All right. Our next three speakers really help inspire the enormous growth of soccer nationwide and put US soccer on the global map. And now they're teammates, serving as community ambassadors for the World Cup here in LA. It's my pleasure to invite Cobi Jones, Mia Hamm, and Julie Foudy to the stage.
Cobi Jones (21:12):
Do we all have glasses? Thank you. Okay, good, good.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Got them.
Cobi Jones (21:17):
Just making sure, just making sure. I mean, first off, finally, right? We're here. We're right at the doorstep of the World Cup. And I can tell you from when it was first announced that we would be hosting and especially here in the city of Los Angeles, it was a special moment for me, but now it feels real, especially with all of you here. So thanks for having me. It's been truly an honor today talking about this once in a generation event alongside some once in a generation talent. So thank you, Mia. Thank you, Julie, for everything that you have done for the sport. I had the privilege
Cobi Jones (22:00):
... of representing the United States in three World Cups. And the last one for me, or the first one for me being here, right here in the city of Los Angeles, where I grew up. It's such a special moment where the city made history or that team, the US team made history.
(22:18)
Those matches at the Rose Bowl did more than fill a stadium. They helped change the trajectory of soccer in the country, in the entire United States, creating leagues and creating a passion for this sport. From that moment on, the sport grew year after year across the entirety of the United States. That's why I'm so excited to welcome the world back into the greatest city on the planet, my hometown of Los Angeles. Yeah, there we go. That deserves it.
(22:52)
And for me, it means quite a lot to serve LA as a community ambassador. And like all of you, I'm focused on delivering an incredible tournament that brings all of us together, that leaves a lasting impact in every neighborhood throughout the city of Los Angeles, a legacy.
(23:17)
One of the ways the host committee is delivering this is through a community legacy program called Grow the Game of Soccer Initiative, which launched in December. The series of clinics is designed to develop and empower the next generation of soccer players, coaches, and referees in the entirety of Southern California. I'm excited to announce the program is expanding now to host 26 youth clinics across LA County in partnership with the Play Equity Fund and Cal South. And that next clinic will take place on February 28th at Cal State LA for boys and girls ages 6 to 12. So that is something truly to be excited about and what another thing that this tournament can bring to the city of Los Angeles. Thank you very much. Now over to you, Mia. Ready?
Mia (24:23):
I don't think the three of us would've been asked to stand in a wall at any point of any game, but first of all, just what an honor it is to stand up here beside Cobi and Jules. First of all, they are legends in our game, not just here in the US, but internationally. And for me, what's even more important is I get to call them friends. And these are two people who have been supportive of me, both on and off the field. So I just want to say publicly, thank you both for being who you are every single day. And just like Cobi said, being here in LA, being part of this World Cup host committee ambassadorship, I had the honor of not just watching Cobi, but the thrill of playing a World Cup final in the Rose Bowl in 1999. There is no experience like it. Having played my last game here in LA with the Women's National Team and lived here for over 20 years, I couldn't be more proud to serve as a community ambassador for this year's World Cup.
(25:37)
Today, I'd like to announce another legacy program, The Road to World Cup Community Days presented by Amgen. The community day events will bring together volunteers to beautify public spaces and celebrate community engagement and civic pride. It's also an opportunity to engage our Angelinos and bring them together to help our city prepare to be on the international stage. This program kicks off on March 14th with the first of two flagship events. The first will showcase the beauty of the World Cup at the Gloria Molina Grand Park in downtown LA through public art and community building, with the second event happening later in the spring. The goal is to inspire cities and volunteers throughout LA County to stage their own beautification days. And the host committee will provide resources and guidance. Volunteer registration for the March 14th event will open in mid-February. Jules, you're up.
Julie (26:56):
Did you notice that neither of them use their glasses? They had them in their hand. I am putting on my glasses. I am thrilled to be up here alongside these two as they said. I got to play in four World Cups with Mia. And one of them, of course, as she was mentioning at the '99 Rose Bowl. And watch and cheer on Cobi and his amazing career, which was about the same time as ours. And really, when I think about the World Cup coming to Los Angeles, I just have the best feelings of what we were able to do in '99, what Brandy was able to do with that penalty kick and taking her shirt off. Thank God she made it. I was next actually. But it gives me great joy that we get to share our city with the world and host as everyone's been talking about those two US games, men's games right here.
(27:54)
And even though Mia and Cobi talked about all the amazing things the committee is going to be doing, I am honored to be a new community ambassador for the World Cup in LA. That is our official name. But I think my legacy program is the coolest, because I get the party bus. Check this out. This is amazing. So it literally goes and makes rounds to LA's dispersed communities in a different way than obviously the soccer clinics and the communities, which are very important. But I get the party bus. It's called, Kick It With Us Mobile Bus Tour. It's a mobile pop-up tour that begins on March 3rd, and it will literally cruise around the county for 100 days with stops at high traffic locations and culturally significant events.
(28:48)
They're going to stop... Jason was telling me, they're going to stop. They're going to give out merch. They're going to have things that slide out and they can play games. They can obviously play soccer. So the idea, of course, is bringing the excitement of the World Cup directly to communities. We will have a penalty kick contest. We'll bring Brandy in for that for sure. Mia loves penalties. She made it in '99. We'll do interactive engagement opportunities tailored for each community. So the Kick It With Us Mobile Tour is a great way to inspire, which we care deeply about, grassroots participation. And we'll be able to unite all the passionate fans and the broader community. Who's in on the party bus? Raise your hand. Okay. All right. Mario, thank you. Thank you to Mia and Cobi for all the work they do in the community and the amazing role models that they are.
Mario (29:43):
Thank you. All right. That's a trio right there. Party bus, we're taking the next level. Okay.
(29:51)
Okay, we have a little treat right now before our final speaker. Please turn your attention to the screen for a short video. A little something just to get you more fired up right there. The weather, of course, is going to be incredible. It's incredible now, so it should even be better. Listen, to tell us more about what fans are going to expect during the tournament, it's my honor to invite to the stage the person who leads the effort to attract big events here in LA. Please welcome and give a warm round of applause to Kathryn Schloessman, President and CEO of the LA Sports and Entertainment Commission and CEO for the LA World Cup 2026 Host Committee.
Kathryn Schloessman (31:46):
Hi, everybody. Thank you. Thank you, Mario, Mayor Bass, and Mayor Butts for being here and being such a huge supporter of ours and for reminding us how important events like the World Cup are to this region. As you heard from Cobi, from Mia and Julie, we have a compelling lineup of community events leading up to the World Cup. And as you just saw in the video, the celebration will continue across the region for 39 days. And today, we are excited to roll out plans for the FIFA Fan Festival and our official World Cup fan zones that will take place across the region, giving tens of thousands of residents and visitors the opportunity to experience the excitement of World Cup right in their own neighborhoods.
(32:33)
We are particularly proud of hosting the official FIFA Fan Festival right here in the historic LA Memorial Coliseum. Since the Summer Olympics in 1932, the Coliseum has been an icon of LA's leadership of global sports. Now, the Coliseum will be part of the 2026 World Cup. The FIFA Fan Festival will
Kathryn Schloessman (33:00):
... kickoff here on June 11th, the opening day of the tournament, and will run through June 15th. Attendees will come together to watch matches on the big screens, enjoy live concerts by leading artists, experience interactive entertainment, cultural programming and food that reflects LA's global diversity.
(33:21)
For the first five days of the World Cup, the Fan Festival will be the heart of the World Cup experience for many people in LA, and we look forward to welcoming fans of all ages for an unforgettable celebration. We will share details about the Fan Fest programming and hours of operation in early March. After the FIFA Fan Festival ends, the celebration will spread out around the county to nine official Los Angeles World Cup '26 Fan Zones. These Fan Zones are mini fan festivals that last one to four days, and will extend the World Cup experience throughout our region.
(34:03)
We are excited to announce the following sites have been selected to be official Los Angeles World Cup '26 Fan Zones, and they will help us deliver a great experience for visitors and locals alike. They are the original farmer's market, City of Downey, the Fairplex, Heart of the City Union Station, and La Plaza de Cultura y Artes. I hope I pronounced that right. Is that okay? Hansen Dam Lake, LA County's Urban Magic Johnson Park, Los Angeles County Whittier Narrows, Venice Beach and West Harbor. Congratulations to these venues and communities, and thank you to their amazing teams for helping us deliver a tremendous and memorable experience for everyone.
(34:57)
And visitors won't be at a loss for excitement between matches. We're working with LA Tourism to create a 39-day fan experience guide that will compile all the official fan events and community engagement moments to help visitors plan their stay and explore everything LA and Englewood has to offer. Thank you to Adam Burke and LA Tourism for helping us build out that schedule.
(35:24)
As the plans come together for the biggest World Cup ever, we foresee tourism delivering a strong boost for local businesses. Our updated Economic Impact Report projects an estimated $892 million in increased spending across LA County, plus another 230 million in media value from increased future tourism, which means the impact of World Cup in LA will surpass $1.1 billion based on a recent update by Epsilon Economics. And we will get additional impact generated from LASEC's Business Connect program, which is our local diverse supplier program where we work to make sure our local businesses get an opportunity to bid on contracts surrounding major events like the World Cup. Hosting World Cup in Los Angeles is more than just eight matches. It's an opportunity, it's media attention. I'm sorry. It is about the opportunities and media attention that the largest single sport event in the world bring to our region and our community. It's about bringing people together through the spirit of community, through our legacy programs and events like the Fan Festival and the Fan Zones. Our goal is to ensure that Angelinos and visitors alike can be part of this historic event.
(36:55)
Thank you again, Mayor Karen Bass, Mayor James Butts, Mayor of Downey, Ross McCall from FIFA, the LA World Cup Host Committee leadership, our community ambassadors and soccer legends and comedians, Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm, Cobi Jones. You guys were great. Our foundational partners, Amgen, Archer, Kaiser Permanente, LA Tourism, Metro, LA Tourism and Marketing District, the LA Memorial Coliseum, the Fan Zones, the Play Equity Fund, and so many of you who are working diligently to make sure to showcase LA in the best possible light. Thank you again for all you have done to date and all you're going to do to help us deliver tremendous impact to our region. Thanks everybody.
Mario Lopez (37:49):
Thank you, Katherine. Grateful for everything you're doing to give fans the ultimate World Cup experience here in LA. All right. Two quick announcements before we wrap it up for the media. Today's speakers and representatives from the Fan Zones will be available for interviews after the program. And right now, I'd like to invite all the speakers that spoke today, the FIFA Fan Festival and Fan Zone representatives up here to the stage so we can get one big group photo. So if you could please join me.
Group (38:15):
[inaudible 00:38:25].